We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 626: I Wonder What Instruction the Confucian Academy Has for Us?

"Oh? Benefits?" Xiao Mo appeared quite interested, though his tone retained a note of caution. "I wonder what benefits Master Shang might have in mind?"

At first, Xiao Mo had genuinely suspected the other party might be some fraudulent cultivator but upon meeting Shang Qi, sensing the rich Confucian resonance radiating from this elderly man, Xiao Mo knew at once that he was indeed from the Confucian Academy, unlikely to be an impostor yet this only made Xiao Mo more suspicious of the Confucian Academy's true intentions.

"Your Majesty may not be aware..."

Shang Qi explained patiently, word by word.

"Our Confucian Academy possesses a Map of Ten Thousand Nations, painted by our own Confucian sage. Whether a nation falls or flourishes, it will manifest upon this map."

"And as the Zhou Kingdom's national fortune has grown ever stronger, its fortune of mountains and rivers growing richer with each passing day, this has naturally appeared upon the Map of Ten Thousand Nations, drawing our dean's attention."

"Our dean believes that the Zhou Kingdom will surely rise dramatically in the future, extraordinary beyond compare, its strength certainly not inferior to today's ten great dynasties. I share this belief as well."

"And so this old fellow petitioned our dean to come here myself, wishing to visit Great Zhou, and pay my respects to Your Majesty in person."

With these words, Shang Qi drew a scroll from within his sleeve.

Xiao Mo gestured to Sili, who took the scroll and presented it to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo unrolled the scroll, and the more he read, the more astonished he grew.

"With the Zhou Kingdom's court now stable, and its people living in peace and prosperity, we believe the future will surely bring forth no small number of promising scholars. And so the Confucian Academy intends to grant the Zhou Kingdom one hundred admission slots every four years."

Shang Qi stroked his beard, speaking slowly to Xiao Mo.

"Zhou Kingdom scholars may travel to study at the Four Great Academies, and the most outstanding among them may even proceed to the Confucian Academy itself. Once their studies are complete, they may return to the Zhou Kingdom to serve Your Majesty."

"Even should these scholars not return to the Zhou Kingdom, remaining instead at the Confucian Academy for further study, their roots would still lie within the Zhou Kingdom. As they advance further along the path of cultivation, the higher their level grows, the greater the benefit to the Zhou Kingdom as well."

"Beyond this, the Confucian Academy will establish four private schools across four cities within the Zhou Kingdom, sending Confucian Academy instructors each year to teach at these four schools, cultivating scholars for the Zhou Kingdom."

"Not only that, going forward, members of the Zhou Kingdom's royal family may also study at the Confucian Academy, just as the ten great dynasties do."

Shang Qi spoke sentence after sentence, yet Xiao Mo offered no reply.

At last, Shang Qi glanced at Xiao Mo, saying tentatively, “Should Your Majesty agree, you may sign your name upon this scroll, and thus the agreement between the Confucian Academy and the Zhou Kingdom shall be sealed."

Xiao Mo still said nothing, instead reviewing the terms upon the scroll once more.

It was true, indeed, that if Zhou Kingdom scholars could study at the Confucian Academy, this would surely benefit the kingdom immensely and the Zhou Kingdom would need to pay no price for it at all.

He seemed to have no reason not to sign but there was no such thing as a free lunch falling from the sky.

The Confucian Academy's generosity toward the current Zhou Kingdom felt somewhat excessive.

Excessive enough that Xiao Mo felt genuinely uneasy about it.

Even if they truly valued the Zhou Kingdom's future, investing early but how long had his own "company" even been operating? So many uncertain factors still lay ahead. Weren't they being a bit too hasty?

It felt rather like setting up a small stall by the roadside, only to have someone approach and say: I wish to invest in you, for you will one day open shops across the entire world...

"I have received the Confucian Academy's kind offer, but this matter requires further discussion with my officials at tomorrow's court session."

Xiao Mo rolled up the scroll, not agreeing right away.

"Then we shall await Your Majesty's decision." Shang Qi nodded, not pressing the matter. "But Your Majesty... this old man has one more thing to say, though I'm not sure whether I should."

"Please, elder, speak freely." Xiao Mo made a welcoming gesture.

"The Confucian Academy values the Zhou Kingdom, but in truth, we of the Confucian Academy value Your Majesty even more."

Shang Qi's tone grew earnest, carrying a note of genuine, sincere recruitment.

"That Your Majesty, as an emperor, managed to break through into the Foundation Building realm is, since the ancient era, truly rare in this world."

"Judging by the spiritual energy radiating from Your Majesty, you have now entered the Cave Mansion realm as well, which leaves this old man utterly amazed."

"But this world has its own laws. The karma of an emperor's throne will inevitably affect Your Majesty's great path. The Cave Mansion realm is likely already Your Majesty's peak."

"Yet Your Majesty enjoys the favor of Confucian fortune, and on the very day of your breakthrough into the Foundation Building realm, the very pages of the Confucian Academy's books stirred and rustled of their own accord, the great bell of literature tolling ceaselessly. Should Your Majesty come study at the Confucian Academy, you would surely achieve great things in the future, perhaps even reaching the realm of a Confucian sage."

"And so, in this old man's view, rather than remaining an emperor within the Zhou Kingdom, Your Majesty might find far greater horizons awaiting at the Confucian Academy. What does Your Majesty think?"

Hearing the invitation to join the Confucian Academy, Xiao Mo shook his head, “My thanks to the Confucian Academy and to you, elder, for your kind offer, but I am merely a mediocre student when it comes to Confucian scholarship, and besides, I find my current life quite comfortable as it is. I'm not particularly inclined to relocate."

"This... is indeed a pity." A flicker of disappointment showed in Shang Qi's eyes. "But this old man still hopes Your Majesty will give it careful consideration over the coming days, before declining me for good."

"I will." Xiao Mo said politely, on the surface but in truth, Xiao Mo genuinely felt not the slightest interest in going to the Confucian Academy.

"Your Majesty, Consort Xue requests an audience outside."

Just as Xiao Mo was chatting casually with Shang Qi and the others, a maid's voice came from beyond the door.

"Oh? Consort Xue has arrived. Have her come in." Xiao Mo said.

"Yes..." the maid answered softly.

The door opened, and a woman in a plain white gown, her hands folded gracefully before her, walked into the imperial study with elegant composure.

The moment Wang Yue saw Yan Ruxue, a bright light flickered in her eyes.

Though this Lord of the Four Seas had altered her appearance, those peach-blossom eyes remained just as familiar and beautiful as ever.

Shang Qi, however, upon seeing Consort Xue, could not help breaking out in a cold sweat, not even daring to look directly at her.

"This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty."

Consort Xue stepped forward, bowing to Xiao Mo.

"No need for such formality, my consort. Come, sit." Xiao Mo said with a smile, patting the couch beside him.

"Yes."

Yan Ruxue stepped forward, seating herself beside Xiao Mo.

Her eyes carried a faint smile as she glanced over the three visitors, saying with a smile, “It seems Your Majesty is entertaining honored guests. Have I intruded?"

"Not at all. We were nearly finished with our discussion anyway." Xiao Mo shook his head. "Oh, right, let me introduce you, my consort. These guests come from the Confucian Academy, and Master Shang here is, in fact, the Vice Dean of the Confucian Academy."

"The Confucian Academy."

Yan Ruxue feigned a note of surprise, then looked toward Shang Qi, her eyes carrying a chill and a hint of mockery.

"I never expected the Vice Dean of the Confucian Academy to come all the way to the Zhou Kingdom. Truly the Zhou Kingdom's good fortune. I wonder what instruction the Confucian Academy has for us?"